1 ,
THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
TO THE
TRUSTEES OF SHAW UNIVERSITY
AND THE
SECRETARY OP THE AMERICAN BAPTIST
HOME! MISSION SOCIETY
PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
Raleigh, N. C, August 1, 1903.
De.vr Brethren: I herewith submit to you my Ninth Annual
Report which is the thirty-eighth since the establishment of the Insti-
tution. The enrollment for the year ended May 31st was 490, a sub-
stantial increase over that of the preceding year. On account of
limited accommodations, we were obliged to refuse during October,
November and a part of December, at least 150 applicants. It
would be an easy matter, if we had the room, to increase the annual
enrollment in a few years to one thousand.
The year financially has been on the whole quite satisfactory on
account of the gift from Mr. Rockefeller to make up a large portion
of the deficit in the Medical Department. You will see by the
financial report appended herewith that there is a deficit of $540.08.
The actual deficit is much larger, but on account of the system of
bookkeeping whereby the receipts and expanses of all the Depart-
ments are kept together instead of separately, the real deficit, though
it is impossible to get at it exactly, must be not less than $2,000.
Last year's prices of groceries, fuel and other supplies have continued
and have made it necessary to exercise the utmost economy as well
as impossible to provide apparatus, maps, etc., etc., that were needed
in the various departments. It will interest you to learn that the
students have paid their bills more promptly and satisfactorily than
in any previous year. On May 31st, the last day of the fiscal year,
there were less than $200 due in all departments. And I hope that
we can make a better showing than this at the close of the next fiscal
year.
The Cooking School will be in operation near the beginning of the
next session. It was not possible to open up this department last
year, for the necessary funds could not be obtained.
The heating plant was put into operation December 1, 1902, and
has proved very satisfactory and economical. This gift of Mr.
Rockefeller has been greatly appreciated. The installation of the
heating plant has been one of the most notable improvements of the
year. Aside from the erection and equipment of the central plant,
Shaw and Estey Halls were provided with pipes and radiators and the
large supply mains were extended through the basement of the
Chapal and administration building, so that these buildings can at any
time be fitted up at a comparatively small expense. Through the
generosity of Mr. H. K. Porter of Pittsburg, the heating system was
extended in the month of May to the Medical Dormitory. On the
last day of May it was finally tested and found satisfactory, and the
work accepted.
A fence has been built around two sides of the Missionary Train-
ing School lot and the well filled up. Last summer the city water
was carried into the main building of the Missionary Training School
and later on it was introduced into the tenement houses and the
Women's Home near by. The walls and ceilings of the Medical
Dormitory have all been repaired and kalsomined and water intro-
duced on each floor. This building is now in good condition. The
operating room, on which work was begun last year, has been com-
pleted. A fence has been built along the east line of the lot of the
Leonard Medical School. The interior of the hospital has been
painted and whitewashed. The fence on the west and south sides of
the Shaw Campus has been strengthened and along the east side it
has been entirely rebuilt and repainted. The basement of the car-
penter shop has been thoroughly overhauled, subdrained and a sub-
stantial brick floor laid. This will be used as a paint shop and also
foi storage purposes. A new platform was built in front of the
carpenter shop. There is no indebtedness for these improvements.
The institution at the present writing is entirely out of debt with the
exception of a few hundred dollars horrowed, as has been the custom
for years, in anticipation of receipts, for the purchase of fuel.
Substantial and permanent improvements have been made in Shaw
Hall. The entrance on the North side has been entirely removed.
This made it possible for an additional school room in the basement
which has been fitted up and made ready for use. The hall in the
rear of the old entrance has been converted into a well lighted and
commodious dormitory room that will comfortably accommodate four
or six men. The stairway on the south side of Shaw Hall, near the
west end, has been removed, and this space has been utilized for
dormitory rooms. When the much needed veranda is built on the
west eni of Shaw, ample facility for exit in case of fire will be pro-
vided. At the present writing, the laundry is being improved by
the addition of a new substantial floor and the whitewashing of the
walls and ceiling. In the basement of the Chapel, under the kitchen,
there is being fitted up a store room, the walls and ceiling of which
will be either brick or iron. This will provide against loss of pro~
visions from rats.
It is important that an additional fire escape be placed upon Estey
Hall. The Medical Dormitory should be similarly equipped. The
office is crowded and inadequate for the demands made upon it. I
would respectfully request that a building for office purposes be
erected so that there may be facilities to do the work required and
that the present Administration Building may be used as was origin-
ally intended as a home for the President and his family and guests
and some of the teachers.
There is an urgent demand for a larger and better Hospital and a
Training School for nurses. There are frequent inquiries from young
men who wish to enter a Dental School. It is important that steps
should be taken at an early date to add a Department of Dentistry.
I think this can be done at comparatively small expense. There are
capable dentists in the city who would be glad to assist in establish-
ing and conducting such a department. I regret that I cannot in-
form you that there has been a large and substantial increase in the
number of books in our library the past year. The library is small
and inadequate and does not begin to meet the demands made upon
it by our faculty and students. There should be provided at an early
date a Laboratory for the Literary Department. I again call your
attention to the need of a Chemical and Biological Laboratory for the
Medical Department. The most urgent need of all is an increase in
our teaching force in the Normal, Industrial and College Depart-
ments. Teachers cannot be expected to do good work with classes
as large as we had last year, especially whan there are so many and
constant demands made upon us for teachers for the public schools.
I am today in receipt of a letter from the Superintendent of Schools
in one of the thriving towns of North Carolina, in which he asks me
to send him several competent teachers, and I have only one in mind
to recommend.
You will be interested to learn that the Slater appropriation
which has for several years been 12,500, has been increased to
$3,000 on condition that we will raise $500 additional. You will
call to mind that last year I reported a large deficit in the Law
Department and suggested the possibility of the closing up of this
department. The class during the past year was one of the largest
we have had, and this department closes the year in a better financial
condition than before on account of the increased size of the class
and a satisfactory financial arrangement with Prof. E. A. Johnson,
the Dean.
The moral and religious welfare of the student body is of the
highest importance and this has been fully realized by every member
of the faculty. Scholarship, without morality and Christianity, is
power without a directing and controlling principle. It is gratifying
to know that this belief is so generally held by Shaw graduates and
students. The religious life and atmosphere of the institution is
prized by them and frequently referred to as the most valuable
feature of life at the University. . Scholarship is not however sacri-
ficed, for thirty-one graduates were sent out at the April and May
commencements. The Y. M. C. A., the temperance society, the
literary societies and prayer meetings have been well sustained.
With very few exceptions, the entire student body are professed
Christians.
The character and conduct of the students has been very satis-
factory throughout the entire year. On one or two occasions, when
there were violations of rules, the students generally by their words
and conduct expressed their disapproval so effectively that the
offenders thought it best to take their departure quietly and sud-
denly.
At the preseut time, when race prejudice is so strong and attention
is so constantly called to the shortcomings of some members of the
race, I wish to put on record my belief which is derived from my own
personal experience and observation. The statement is frequently
seen in the press that nearly all colored women are lewd and that
practically all colored people will steal and lie and that they gen-
erally condone these evils. I have been in constant touch with
young people since 1869: From 1869-1889 in Massachusetts and
Maine, with the best white youth; from 1889-1894 with Indian youth
in Kansas and for nearly a decade with colored young men and
women at Shaw University. I have found the students at Shaw
almost without exception clean, pure-minded men and women,
obedient and of earnest purpose. They compare favorably with
any bod}' of students I have known in oilier places. Violation of the
rules of the institution have received the condemnation of the major
portion of the student body and this has been more marked even on
the part of the young women than the young men, though it was
shared by practically all. On a certain occasion, the young women
believed that one of their number was not of good character snd they
ostracized her. The faculty made a thorough investigation and
found that at the very worst the young woman had been imprudent
and so stated to the young women at the evening devotions. It was
only after the young woman in question had publicly asked the
pardon of her fellow students that the incident could be considered
closed. I have dwelt at length upon the moral character of our stu-
dents because you ought to know that Shaw is training and sending
out into the world men and women of good moral and Christian
character who are not violating the commandments of God or the
ordinances of men.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
I append herewith my financial report that has been forwarded to
Mr. Frank T. Moulton, Treas. A comparison with last year's report
will show quite an increase in receipts as well as expenditures. If
we add to the total receipts the gift of Mr. Rockefeller to establish
the heating plant and the gift of Mr. Porter for its extension to the
Medical Dormitory, you will see thaft the total receipts for the year
were more than $55,000.
Medical Department.
receipts.
Tuition $1814.00
Board 5058.76
Contributions 1083.35
Old Accounts 205.50
Slater Fund 1000.00
J W Leonard Fund 1 75.00
Sundries 305.38
19641.99
EXPENDITURES.
School Supplies 201.49
Boarding Department 47.96
Repairs 1130.17
Student Labor 17.00
Salaries:
James McKee $650.00
A. W. Knox 650.00
K. P. Battle 650.00
W. I. Royster 650.00
R. H. Lewis 325.00
J. M. Pickel 650.00
A. W. Goodwin 650.00
Hospital Nurse 176.00
Janitor Service 1 96.75
. 4597.75*
Sundries:
Dissecting Material, Diplomas, Printing,
Traveling Expenses, etc., Rebates 675.42
6669.79
Surplus 2972.20
$9641.99
Pharmacy Department.
RECEIPTS,
Tuition $420.0.0
Board 528,00
Contributions 50.00
Old Accounts 98.79
$109G.79
EXPENDITURES.
School Supplies. 20.00
Boarding Department. '. 6.54
Salaries:
William Simpson $650.00
Janitor Service 2G.76
— 676.76
Sundries, Diplomas, etc 92.10
$795.40
Surplus 301 .39
$1096.79
Law Department.
receipts.
Tuition $320.00
Board 448.00
Contributions. 50.00
Old Accounts 25.00
8-13.00
Deficit 314.42
$1157.42
EXPENDITURES.
- r- r>
School Supplies 1 5.7 o
Boarding Department. 347.10
Salaries:
E. A. Johnson $650.00
R. H. Battle 120.00
770.00
Sundries 24.59
$1157.42
Literary Department.
receipts.
Tuition *3011.78
Board 7781.35
Contributions 2009.38
Old Accounts 138.10
S'ater Fund 1500.00 m
All other sources G430.66
$20871.27
Deficit 225.06
$21096.93
EXPENDITURES.
School Supplies $ 420. 11
Boarding Department 9267.36
Repairs 3068.92
Special Improvements 2674.52
Students' Labor 291.41
Salaries:
M. L. Hamilton $4 00.00
1. J. Brown 300.00
F. N. Walls 400.00
E. C. Pefirues 400.00
Five Assistants 790.00
Other Employees 672.15
2962.15
Gratuities in Money and Rebates 263.57
Sundries, Traveling Expenses, Printing, Diplomas,
Stationery, etc 1975.84
Deficit of 1901-02 173.05
$21096.93
APPROPRIATIONS.
A. 13. II. M. S., $7450.00
Woman's Society, Chicago 680.00
$8130.00
EXPENDITURES.
Clia*. F. Meserve 2000.00
N. F. Roberts 650.00
A . W. Pegues 800.00
M. D. B >wen 500.00
C. R. Frazer 400.00
J. L. Levister 600.00
G. A. Edwards 800.00
10
Ida J. Brown, on account. 300.00
Jennie M. Linton 350.00
Abbie L. Williams 450.00
Alice M. Emerson 200.00
Emily C. Ayer 400.00
Emma L. Miller 360.00
May C. Hamilton 320.00
$8130.00
Summary.
receipts.
Medical Department $ 9641.99
Pharmacy Department 1096.79
Law Department 843.00
Literary Department 17597.68
Appropriations for Salaries.... 8130.00
$37309.46
Deficit 540.08
$37849.54
EXPENDITURES.
Medical Department $ 6669.79
Pharmacy Department , 795.40
Law Department. 1157.42
Literary Department 21096.93
Salaries from Appropriations 8130.00
$37849.54
Fraternally submitted,
CHARLES FRANCIS MESERVE,
President.
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